Kingston man who says police roughed him up arraigned on unrelated charge

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> The Kingston man who claims police roughed him up while arresting him for having an open container in public was arraigned Tuesday on new charges in Kingston City Court.

Adrin Brodhead, 24, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor criminal contempt as pretrial hearings were set to get underway in his trial for resisting arrest.

Public Defender Andrew Kossover said the new charge against Brodhead stems from an unrelated Family Court matter.

Brodhead rejected a deal from Ulster County Assistant District Attorney Jarrid Blade for one year interim probation and a conditional discharge in exchange for Brodhead pleading guilty to both criminal contempt and the reduced charge of disorderly conduct.

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Brodhead had previously rejected an offer from the District Attorney’s Office for a conditional discharge in exchange for pleading guilty to disorderly conduct, opting instead to take his case to trial.

Pretrial hearings to determine whether certain evidence gathered by police should be allowed at trial had been scheduled for Tuesday, but were adjourned to allow “further investigation,” into the new allegations, Kossover said. The hearings are now scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Brodhead was arrested for resisting arrest charge on July 20 by city police in front of the 440 Pizzeria on Broadway in Midtown for not putting his hands behind his back when asked to do so by police and with violating the city’s open-container ordinance and littering.

Brodhead has said he was carrying an open beer container as he walked home from work when he was approached by police who requested identification. After refusing to place his hands behind his back, Brodhead said, he was tackled to the ground by officers, pepper sprayed and tased.

His arrest has prompted protests from community activists who say Brodhead was targeted by white police officers because he is black.

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Since 1990, Patricia R. Doxsey has been a reporter for the Freeman, covering politics, crime, and government affairs. Reach the author at pdoxsey@freemanonline.com
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